Not paying Section 7 expenses can lead to serious legal enforcement actions and financial penalties
Failing to pay your required share of Section 7 expenses is considered a violation of court-ordered child support obligations in Canada. The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) or provincial equivalent can take several enforcement actions to collect unpaid amounts.
- Court may authorize wage garnishment up to 50% of your income
- Seizure of bank accounts and other financial assets
- Suspension of driver’s license or passport
- Registration of liens against personal property
- Negative impact on credit rating and future court proceedings
Additionally, unpaid Section 7 expenses can accumulate interest charges and may result in being found in contempt of court, potentially leading to fines or other penalties.